Hiromi Iwasaki 'Pandora's Box' - 1978 Japanese Quad Album Reissued on SACD

[Sonik Wiz]

Atama ni kuru!

So I placed my order for Hiromi through Zen Market. Seemed straight forward enough at 1st. I pasted the Tower Records product URL into the ZM search bar & was ready to order. In US it was about $44 so I deposited $60 to be safe via PayPal. Being a new customer the $3.00 acquisition fee was waved. A few days later they told me the product was in their possession & I need to pay for shipping. I did so thinking it was quite reasonable. Then I get another request for shipping charges again. It seems the 1st one was just for Japanese mail to get it to UPS international delivery. For whatever reason the cheaper slower shipping methods are not available because of the COVID. So for UPS I had to deposit another $30. So right now this one SACD disc has cost me $90, or as I like to think of it, almost a$100. This is gonna be a one shot experience & boy that disc better blow me away.

 

[jefe1]

Taking one for the Team.
See above.

 

[Sonik Wiz]

Taking one for the Team.
See above.

I believe J Pupster ordered this, also thru ZM. I imagine he's having the same learning experience.

 

[HIBY]

This whole Wuhan flu screwed up cheap shipping that's for sure. You are better off buying multiple items and having them shipped vs just one CD.

I bought a few live 5.1 concert dvds and Sinatra in surround due make shipping worth while.

 

[J. PUPSTER]

She has arrived!

 

[Sonik Wiz]

She has arrived!

View attachment 56378

Yeah love emoji at same time so envious. Haha wait till the 2nd one shows up!

Do let everyone know how you like!

 

[J. PUPSTER]

 

[Sonik Wiz]

View attachment 56385
View attachment 56386

So it's one of those stereo sound CD-4 discs. How's the music? How's the surround?

 

[J. PUPSTER]

So it's one of those stereo sound CD-4 discs. How's the music? How's the surround?

Hiromi Iwasaki - Pandora No Kobako SACD Quad

Listening to this now.

First impression is, I'm really diggin' this; and sure I don't have a clue as to what she's singing (maybe @steelydave can find translation to this online )

I guess I'd call this music "Pop-Funk with Orchestration." It has good front channel Phantom Center presence and plenty of action in the rears.
On the song Biyaku, there's her main vocals Center, background vocals fronts and rears, some guitar in Right Rear, Horns Left Rear, Bass and Drums in fronts and some percussion in Left Rear.
I really liked the song "Conversation" with some circling percussion at the beginning and some nice Larry Carlton style Guitar. Another highlight is "Mr. Puzzle" Funky but with a slight country feel (pedal steel guitar, believe it or not) and some more Carlton style guitar.

Song number 11 tagged as Nannansei No Kaze No Naka De, which I believe translated out to something like: "In the South-Southwest Wind"?

At some point I'll scan the inside pamphlet as it has some interesting stuff in it, albeit in Japanese.

Overall, I'm really glad to have this, but yeah, the price with shipping is onerous.

Ultimately, I'd like to hear @steelydave's take on this, as he has a much more experienced, refined and discerning ear for dissecting surround music than I do.
So, you're on call for this Dave

and here's the flac wave forms for the song Conversation- looks like 5.0 with silent Center. (confirmed by oppo & Foobar2000)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
岩崎宏美-パンドラの小箱SACDクワッド

第一印象は、私は本当にこれを掘り下げています。そして彼女が何を歌っているかの手がかりがないことを確認してください（多分@steelydaveはこれの翻訳をオンラインで見つけることができます;））

この曲は「ポップファンクとオーケストレーション」だと思います。フロントチャンネルのファントムセンターの存在感がよく、リアには十分なアクションがあります。

曲Biyakuでは、彼女のメインボーカルセンター、バックグラウンドボーカルのフロントとリア、右リアにギター、ホーン左リア、バスとドラムがフロントに、パーカッションが左リアにあります。

私は曲「カンバセーション」が好きで、最初はいくつかのパーカッションが循環していて、ラリー・カールトン風の素敵なギターがいくつかありました。もう1つのハイライトは「ミスターパズル」ファンキーですが、カントリー感が少しあります（ペダルスチールギター、信じられないかもしれません）と、もう少しカールトンスタイルのギター。

「南南星の風のなかで」とタグ付けされた曲番号11は、「南南西の風の中」のようなものに翻訳されたと思いますか？

日本語ではありますが、中には面白いものがあるので、いつか中のパンフレットをスキャンします。

全体として、私はこれを手に入れて本当に嬉しいですが、そうです、送料込みの価格は面倒です。

結局のところ、@ steelydaveの意見を聞いてみたいと思います。彼は、私よりも、サラウンドミュージックを分析するための、非常に経験豊富で洗練された目の肥えた耳を持っているからです。

だから、あなたはこのデイブを求めています

 

[4-earredwonder]

FOR ALMOST $100 IT BETTER BE STUPENDOUS. Never want to hear anyone again ***** about $100 box sets! I, personally, have NO interest in this title. And think how many D~V QUAD two~fers 100 bucks buys....or UHD4K and/or 3D Movies?????????

 

[J. PUPSTER]

FOR ALMOST $100 IT BETTER BE STUPENDOUS. Never want to hear anyone again ***** about $100 box sets! I, personally, have NO interest in this title. And think how many D~V QUAD two~fers 100 bucks buys....or UHD4K and/or 3D Movies?????????

Party pooper! I'll cry if I want to; and who here spends ungodly amounts of money on audio/video gear !

 

[4-earredwonder]

Party pooper! I'll cry if I want to; and who here spends ungodly amounts of money on audio/video gear !

Yo, JP .... sounds to me like one of those 'novelty' titles you'll play once and file away ...... forever. And SHAME on Tower Records in Japan for not shipping to the U.S. All those luscious ECM Stereo SACDs had to ordered through CDJapan's PROXY service [a REAL PITA] or if lucky, showed up on ebay....and were outrageously priced @ $60 each at Acoustic Sounds when their Japanese list was HALF THAT!

And at least my audio gear is not vaporware and allows me to hear EVERYTHING AS IT SHOULD SOUND....and my center channel is not [gasp!] FIVE FEET ABOVE THE TV!!!!!!!! The voice of, er, GOD!!!!!!

Oh, I can verily hear a sarcastic JP reply a' comin'......... fight??????

 

[J. PUPSTER]

Yo, JP .... sounds to me like one of those 'novelty' titles you'll play once and file away ...... forever. And SHAME on Tower Records in Japan for not shipping to the U.S. All those luscious ECM Stereo SACDs had to ordered through CDJapan's PROXY service [a REAL PITA] or if lucky, showed up on ebay.

I assure you I will play this often, it's really good IMO.

 

[4-earredwonder]

I assure you I will play this often, it's really good IMO.

Then better brush up on your Japanese, JP!

BTW, this Japanese Stereo SACD would probably sound SPECTACULAR through your SM V.2: [Spectacular Bob Ludwig remaster]
Bob Ludwig

https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/MHCL-10110?s_ssid=e36be25f62898ac904

 

[Sonik Wiz]

Hiromi Iwasaki - Pandora No Kobako SACD Quad

Listening to this now.

First impression is, I'm really diggin' this; and sure I don't have a clue as to what she's singing (maybe @steelydave can find translation to this online )

I guess I'd call this music "Pop-Funk with Orchestration." It has good front channel Phantom Center presence and plenty of action in the rears.
On the song Biyaku, there's her main vocals Center, background vocals fronts and rears, some guitar in Right Rear, Horns Left Rear, Bass and Drums in fronts and some percussion in Left Rear.
I really liked the song "Conversation" with some circling percussion at the beginning and some nice Larry Carlton style Guitar. Another highlight is "Mr. Puzzle" Funky but with a slight country feel (pedal steel guitar, believe it or not) and some more Carlton style guitar.

Song number 11 tagged as Nannansei No Kaze No Naka De, which I believe translated out to something like: "In the South-Southwest Wind"?

At some point I'll scan the inside pamphlet as it has some interesting stuff in it, albeit in Japanese.

Overall, I'm really glad to have this, but yeah, the price with shipping is onerous.

Ultimately, I'd like to hear @steelydave's take on this, as he has a much more experienced, refined and discerning ear for dissecting surround music than I do.
So, you're on call for this Dave

and here's the flac wave forms for the song Conversation- looks like 4.1 with silent LFE ?

View attachment 56414

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
岩崎宏美-パンドラの小箱SACDクワッド

第一印象は、私は本当にこれを掘り下げています。そして彼女が何を歌っているかの手がかりがないことを確認してください（多分@steelydaveはこれの翻訳をオンラインで見つけることができます;））

この曲は「ポップファンクとオーケストレーション」だと思います。フロントチャンネルのファントムセンターの存在感がよく、リアには十分なアクションがあります。

曲Biyakuでは、彼女のメインボーカルセンター、バックグラウンドボーカルのフロントとリア、右リアにギター、ホーン左リア、バスとドラムがフロントに、パーカッションが左リアにあります。

私は曲「カンバセーション」が好きで、最初はいくつかのパーカッションが循環していて、ラリー・カールトン風の素敵なギターがいくつかありました。もう1つのハイライトは「ミスターパズル」ファンキーですが、カントリー感が少しあります（ペダルスチールギター、信じられないかもしれません）と、もう少しカールトンスタイルのギター。

「南南星の風のなかで」とタグ付けされた曲番号11は、「南南西の風の中」のようなものに翻訳されたと思いますか？

日本語ではありますが、中には面白いものがあるので、いつか中のパンフレットをスキャンします。

全体として、私はこれを手に入れて本当に嬉しいですが、そうです、送料込みの価格は面倒です。

結局のところ、@ steelydaveの意見を聞いてみたいと思います。彼は、私よりも、サラウンドミュージックを分析するための、非常に経験豊富で洗練された目の肥えた耳を持っているからです。

だから、あなたはこのデイブを求めています

Thanks for the post. I thought it was a good review & description of the music. I will keep your notes in hand when I get my copy!

Song number 11 tagged as Nannansei No Kaze No Naka De, which I believe translated out to something like: "In the South-Southwest Wind"?

Yeah sometimes Google translate gives hilarious results. For even funnier nonsense translate English to Japanese and back again. I only know Naka translates to "centered" or "in the middle", so I'm not sure where South-Sothwest is coming from.

When people find out I listen to more J or K music than English music they ask the 2 inevitable questions:
Do I speak Japanese? And if I can't understand the lyrics why would I want listen to it? No I don't speak Japanese. But so many times I've heard Western music with completely unintelligible lyrics. Any way if the voice is considered a musical instrument than it can be enjoyed in any language.

Anyway glad you got the SACD & are enjoying it. I think it's rather rare to find pop/rock music from Japan in surround. So it's agood find, IMO.

 

[Sonik Wiz]

Then better brush up on your Japanese, JP!

BTW, this Japanese Stereo SACD would probably sound SPECTACULAR through your SM V.2: [Spectacular Bob Ludwig remaster]

https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/MHCL-10110?s_ssid=e36be25f62898ac904

Oh man thank's for that post! I had run across this elsewhere but spaced it out. I think it is on HD Tracks. Big fan of YMO I've made a point to collect as much of their stuff as I can.

 

[4-earredwonder]

Oh man thank's for that post! I had run across this elsewhere but spaced it out. I think it is on HD Tracks. Big fan of YMO I've made a point to collect as much of their stuff as I can.

Then take your PICK, SW. Some are already OOP. I only have the Public Pressure LIVE SACD but plan to add more.

https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/searches?term.media_format=&q=yellow+magic+orchestra+sacd

 

[J. PUPSTER]

Thanks for the post. I thought it was a good review & description of the music. I will keep your notes in hand when I get my copy!



Yeah sometimes Google translate gives hilarious results. For even funnier nonsense translate English to Japanese and back again. I only know Naka translates to "centered" or "in the middle", so I'm not sure where South-Sothwest is coming from.

When people find out I listen to more J or K music than English music they ask the 2 inevitable questions:
Do I speak Japanese? And if I can't understand the lyrics why would I want listen to it? No I don't speak Japanese. But so many times I've heard Western music with completely unintelligible lyrics. Any way if the voice is considered a musical instrument than it can be enjoyed in any language.

Anyway glad you got the SACD & are enjoying it. I think it's rather rare to find pop/rock music from Japan in surround. So it's agood find, IMO.

I also listen to and enjoy others like Lila Downs music (Spanish-Mexico), although I do understand some of that. So whatever bubbles your bath

 

[4-earredwonder]

I also listen to and enjoy others like Lila Downs music (Spanish-Mexico), although I do understand some of that. So whatever bubbles your bath

Couldn't RESIST, Pupster :

私の好みです

 

[J. PUPSTER]

Could RESIST, Pupster :

That's very relaxing, wine, candle light, spiked hair etc., but damn I hate cucumbers!